I have lived in Cincinnati, Ohio now for almost two years, and I’m still trying to figure out what makes the natives tick. One of the strangest things I’ve encountered is Cincinnati chili.

Chili? Even when I was a kid growing up in Pittsburgh, I had some idea about what constitutes chili. My mom’s chili wasn’t anything outstanding. It was just normal chili, perhaps a bit milder than some so we kids would eat it, but normal chili. I’m sure it had just a pinch of chili powder in it to give just the hint of spiciness. But it was definitely chili.

As an adult, I lived in Florida and Texas, where chili cook-offs were yearly happenings and where competitions were steep. Some of the winners boasted that it was grape jelly that made the difference in their chili. Others mentioned using armadillo meat instead of ground beef. Some chefs had different versions depending upon how much spiciness or hotness one could handle. They called them 3, 4 or 5-alarm chili. Yes, in both Florida and Texas, chili was chili. The same kind of chili most likely found all over the United States.

But if you search the Internet for recipes about Cincinnati chili, you’ll probably discover that some think what makes Cincinnati chili different than the rest is that there is vinegar and cinnamon in it.

Nope, that’s not it folks. What makes Cincinnati chili different is that it’s spaghetti sauce, not chili.

That’s right. It’s spaghetti sauce. Both Gold Star Chili and Skyline Chili, the Cincinnati area’s most famous chili restaurants boast of having 3-way, 4-way and 5-way chili in the menu. 3-way chili consists of a mountain of spaghetti covered with Cincinnati chili and shredded cheese. 4-way adds either onions or red beans and 5-way adds both the onions and the beans.

Yes, folks in Cincinnati also serve their chili over hot dogs and call it a “Coney.” But they are most famous for serving that chili over spaghetti.

None of the recipes I discovered for Cincinnati chili even mention meat, but there was something chewy in the sauce the one time I tried a cheese Coney.

If you want a good Coney dog, by all means come to Cincinnati. Theirs are like many throughout the country.

But if you want a good plate of chili, I doubt Cincinnati chili is what you’re after. And personally, if I want a good plate of spaghetti, I’d head to an Italian restaurant and not one famous for something they call “chili.”

Marilyn Mackenzie has been writing about home, family, faith and nature for over 40 years. She is an author on http://www.Writing.Com which is a site for Creative Writers. Her portfolio can be found at http://www.Writing.Com/authors/kenzie

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People love parties, and the person of honor at a party loves it even more, but parties such as Bridal Showers can get costly. There are ways to cut back on the costs while still throwing a great party for the Bride and her friends.

Food is a staple at any party. Some people choose to have their parties catered to save them time but caterers are pricey. You could choose to have a party with only light refreshments, but this might leave guests feeling hungry and a little gypped. A good solution is to throw a potluck style Bridal Shower. Invite guests to bring something they’ve made at home to the party. You provide the napkins, silverware and plates. To cut back further on the costs you can make up punch and tea to serve guests instead of buying sodas and alcoholic drinks.

The bride will almost certainly be expecting gifts and this can be handled in a couple of different ways. You can set up a ‘wishing well’ made out of a large box covered in wrapping paper. Tell the guests before the party that you are using the ‘wishing well’ and they only need to bring smaller inexpensive type household items. There are lots of smaller appliances and basic items that the couple will need when starting out on their own. Don’t underestimate the value of plain kitchen towels and coffee mugs. After all a little adds up to a lot. As guests arrive to the bridal shower they can put the items into the ‘wishing well.’ The gifts can be wrapped or unwrapped, with or without tags. It depends on how you want to operate the ‘wishing well’ and the bride will appreciate getting lots of smaller gifts. You can also take up a collection among the guests to get the bride and groom one larger gift. That way it’s a little easier on everyone’s budgets.

As for decorations you can usually find themed party packages that will help you cut back on cost and effort of tracking down individual decorative items and even supplies for games.

Mrs. Party… Gail Leino is the internet’s leading authority on selecting the best possible party supplies, using proper etiquette and manners while also teaching organizational skills and fun facts. Free Party Games to help complete your event.

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